3. How people turn solemn work into trifling
3. How people turn solemn work into trifling
We now proceed, to inquire how people come to turn such solemn work into trifling. They do so,
3.1. Because they have no due consideration of the worth and preciousness of their souls, they do not suitably value the great salvation; Matthew 22:5, "But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, and another to his merchandise." Men will not trifle in matters which appear to them of great concern. But men who do not duly value their souls will venture them on they know not what. But who considers eternity, and the weight which lies on the soul's transacting with God? If men had eternity in their eye, and were transacting as for eternity, communicating for eternity, they would act in another manner, and not thus trifle in so important a business. They do so,
3.2. Because they know not what a God they have to do with, they think that he is altogether such a one as themselves, Psalm 50:21. Men transact in their duties with they know not whom, and therefore they know not what; Joshua 24:19, "And Joshua said unto the people, You cannot serve the Lord; for he is a holy God, he is a jealous God, he will not forgive your transgressions, nor your sins." When people have mean thoughts of God, they are ready to think any little thing may serve him. They thus trifle,
3.3. Because they know not their own hearts, and their deceits; Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? There are many secret biases there, to which they do not advert. Men may be hypocrites, and not know themselves to be such. The heart has a depth of deceit, which is not easy to fathom, which will make men say, with Saul, I have performed the commandment of the Lord, while, after all, the bleating of the sheep will discover the deceit. They thus trifle,
3.4. Because sin has never been made bitter enough to them. It is hard to wean us from the love of lust if the breasts of them be not laid over with gall and wormwood. We must dig deep and build upon the rock. Where the fallow ground is not plowed up, there will be a sowing among thorns, Jeremiah 4:3. The consent of many to take Christ, such as it is, is too lightly win to be solid. — They thus trifle,
3.5. Because they are hasty and indeliberate in their engaging. They fall a-building before they count the cost, Matthew 14:25; what is rashly done, is but slightly done in this matter. He that would make sure work, must lay his account beforehand with what he may meet with in the Lord's way. Then, meet with what they will, they will not be offended. — They thus trifle,
3.6. Because they have never got a sufficient discovery of their own utter weakness and insufficiency. They think they have a stock, and therefore may trade with it, and are very ready to undertake, though their heart will certainly misgive in the performance. This is building on the old foundation of nature; whereas, there will never be sure work, until this foundation be razed. If any man will come after Jesus, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow him. It only remains that,